Remote control and safety appliance for gas burners



No v. 2,7, 1934. J. BqWlLLlAMs 1,982,562 Rxo'rl; CONTROL AND SAFETY'APPLIANCEFOR GAS BURNERS 4 Filed Jima 2o, 193s f luvzuron A-rronnsvPatented Nov. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE.

REMOTE CONTROL AND'SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR GAS BURNERS James BernardWilliams, Minden, La..v Application June 20, 1933, Serial No. 676,745

9 Claims.

mote control for gas burners, such as the socalled instantaneous waterheater and equivalent devices, so that the user may readily ignite theburner at some remote point with assurance that the fuel valve will beturned on and the ignition apparatus simultaneously set into operation;to provide a device of the kind indicated which will automatically shutoff the ignition device or ap- 10 paratus after the burner has beenignited; to provide a safety device in appliances of this kind that willfunction to automatically shut off the gas supply in the event of afailure of the supply, thereby preventing the escape of the gas on theresumption of the supply; to provide a construc- 'tion in which theignition apparatus is so related to the safety appliance that theignition apparatus will be prevented from operation when the safetyappliance is in the shut-ofi position; and generally toprovide apparatusof the kind indicated which is of simple form, susceptible of cheapmanufacture,and of a character to permit its installation in connectionwith conventional apparatus without material modification of the latter.

With this object in view, the invention consists' in a construction andcombination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein: A

The figure is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a gasburner with the invention applied in operative position thereon.

The burner 10 which may be the heating means of an instantaneous waterheater, or of a radiant gas heater, or any equivalent device which it isdesired to set in operation from a remote point,

is provided with a control valve 11, the plug of which is provided withan arm 12 operatively connectedwith the stem 14 of a plunger 15constituting the core of a solenoid composed of the coils 16 and 17.AThe plug of the valve 11 is turned angularly to move the valve to openor closed position, and since this necessitates angular movement of thearm 12, the operative connection between it and the stern 14 is in theform of a link 18 having terminal pivotal connections with the stem andwith the arm. The coils 16 and 1'. are designed to be alternatelyenergized, the one mov- 53 ing the core 15 in one direction and theother moving the core in the other direction. When the coil 16 isenergized, the consequent movement imparted to the core effects suchturning movement of the plug of the valve 11 .as t'o shift it to 55closed position. Energizing the coil 17 effects The object of theinvention is to provide a resuch movement of the core 15 as to turn theplug of the valve 11 to open position.

An ignition coil 19, of conventional form, is employed to ignite the gasissuing from the jets of the burner 10 when the plug of the valve is 60in open position. One terminal of the secondary of this coil isconnected to an electrode 20, mounted upon but insulated from the burnerstructure but disposed in close proximity to the jets thereof. The otherterminal of the secondary ofthe ignition coil is connected directly tothe burner. Thus the .current circulating in the secondary of theinduction coil will jump from the electrode to the burner, theconsequent spark igniting the issuing gas. The primary of the inductioncoil is designed to be energized only when the coil 17 in the controlvalve actuating means is energized, and this may be accomplished in anyone of several conventional ways. In the present embodiment, a coil 2 1is disposed in surrounding relation to the coil 17, and in combinationwith the latter constitutes a transformer of which thel coil 17 is theprimary and the coil 2 1 the secondary. This coil 21 has the primary of.the ignition coil 17 connected directly across its terminals. Athermostatic switch is incorporated in the apparatus and'disposedadjacent the burner 10. This switch may be of any acceptable form, butlin the present embodiment comprises the consov ` tacts 22 and 23 ofwhich the former is mounted S5 y in but insulated from one wall of theburner` structure, and the latter is carried at the center of a domedelement 24 peripherally secured to the burner structure. The contact 23is insulated from the domed element 24, Under normal temperatures, thecontact 23 will be held'in engagement with the contact 22, but when thedomed element is subject to the heat of the burner, it will expand andmove the contact 23 away from the contact 22.

One terminal of the coil 11 is connected with the thermostatic switch,as by a conductor run to the contact 23. 'Ihe other terminal of the coil17 is connected to one side of the supply line 25, the other side ofwhich is connected to the movable element 260i a manual switch which isof the single-pole, double-throw form, so that it may be engaged eitherwith the contact 27 or the contact 28. That side of the supply line 25connected with the coil 17 is similarly connected with one terminal ofthe coil 16, the other terminal of which is connected with the contact28. The contact 27 is connected with the contact 22 of the thermostaticswitch but in series with a cutout switch which is controlled by andshifted to 110 open or closed positions by a shut-off valve designed tofunction as a safety appliance to prevent the resumption of the ilow ofgas in the event of a sudden failure in the source of supply. Theshut-01T valve is in the form of a plunger'29, the lower end of whichenters the upturned end oi a tubular conductor 30 communicating with thecontrol valve 11. The shut-oli valve, at the lower end, is formed withan axial slot 31 which, when the plunger is raised, provides a channelthrough which gas may reach the conductor 30 from the conductor 32,which leads to the source of supply, and in which there is provided amanual control valve 33.

The plunger valve 29 is housed in a casing interiorly with which theconductors 30 and 32 are in communication. This casing is composed ofthe complementary shells 34 and 35 secured together by means of bolts 36passed through peripheral flanges with which the shells are formed. Adiaphragm 37 divides the casing interiorly into two chambers, thisdiaphragm being interposed between the anges of the two shells andsecurely held by said flanges. The one chamber, chamber 38, is a gaspressure chamber, and the other chamber, chamber 39, is a chamber inwhich the cut-out switch is housed. The plunger 29 passes axiallythrough the diaphragm 37 and is xedly secured to the latter, extendingwell up into the switch chamber and carrying at its upper end a contact40 which is insulated from the plunger, but which is electricallyconnected with a binding post 41 mounted in, but insulated from, thewall of the shell 35, this binding post being electrically connectedwith the contact 22. A binding .post 42 is mounted in the diametricallyopposite side of the-shell 35 and is connected with a contact 43 whichis complementary to the contact 40, this binding post being connectedwith the contact 27 of the manual switch by which the apparatus isactuated. Gas entering the chamber 38 from the source of supply will,when the plunger 29 is low enough to shroud the slot 26 in the upturnedend of the conductor 30, eilect opening movement of the shut-olf valve,since it will bulge the diaphragm 37 upwardly until the slot 31 isexposed, when gas may pass from the chamber 38 to the conductor 30. Butwith the plunger in position to permit the passage of gas, the contact40 is brought into engagement with the contact 43, so that a circuitwill be established on the coil 17 when the switch arm 26 is moved intoengagement with the contact 27, if the thermostatic switch is in closedposition, as it will be if the burner 10 is not lighted.

The plunger 29 is formed with a latch seat 44 which, when the shut-offvalve is in the closed position, may be engaged by the latch 45, thelatter being slidably mounted in the tubular guide 46 mounted in thewall of the shell 35 and having a stem 47 extending slidably through acap 48 on the outer end of the guide. A compression spring 49 isdisposed in the guide in surrounding relation to the stem and compressedby the inner A end of the latch and the cap 48.

The stem 47 is formed with an angular extremity 50 arranged in the pathof movement of the free end of a lever 51, this lever being a leverofthe rst order having a pivotal mounting 52 on a tubular conductor 30.The force arm of the lever 51 is connected by means of a link 53 withthe arm 12 at an intermediate point in the length of the latter.

When the control valve 11 is in the closed position, which is'theposition indicated in the drawing, the link 53 will rock the lever 51 ina direction to cause the resistance arm of the latter to engage theangular terminal 50 of the latch, and thus retract the lever, so that itmay, in the closed position of the control valve, engage the plunger 29of the shut-off valve.

In the operation of the invention, the valve 33 is moved to openposition and permitted to remain in this position. Gas from the sourceof supply can, therefore, reach the pressure chamber 38, and will thusbulge the diaphragm 37 upwardly moving the shut-off valve to openposition by exposing its slot 31 above the upper edge of the upturnedextremity of the conductor 30. At the same time, the contacts 40 and 43will be brought into engagement. This will be the normal position of theshut-off valve except in the failure of the gas supply which willrelieve pressure below the diaphragm and permit the plunger of theshut-01T valve to drop to closed position. With the shut-olf valve inits normally open position by reason of the gas pressure effectiveagainst its diaphragm, when it is desired to light the burner 10, themovable switch arm 26 is shifted to engagement with the contact 27, whencurrent will ow from the line 25 to the binding post 42, thence over thecontacts 43 and 40 to the contacts 22 and 23 of the thermostatic switch,thence through the coil 17, and thence back to the other side of theline. The coil 17 being energized, the plunger 15 will be sucked into itwith the result that the plug of the valve 11 will be turned to ope'nposition, thus permitting gas to flow to the burner 10. But when thecoil 17 is energized, so is the coil 21 which means that the primary ofthe ignition coil 19 is also energized, causing the current from itssecondary to pass from the electrode 20 to the burner 10 in the form ofsparks which will ignite the gas issuing from the jets of the burner.When the burner shall have been lighted, its heat will be effective onthe d e 24 to expand the latter and thus open the thermostatic switchseparating the contacts 23 and 22. The thermostatic switch being inseries with the coil 17, the circuit on the latter will be open, and theignition coil be rendered inert. But with the movement of the valve 11to open position, the lever 51 will have its resistance arm swung overtoward the shut-off valve casing, so that the spring 49 will be free toimpel the latch toward the plunger 29. But the latch cannot engage inthe seat 44 because the plunger has been elevated and accordingly willonly bear on the periphery of the plunger. As long as the gas supplyremains intact, these positions of the parts will continue until theburner ls extinguished by shutting off the gas supply by movement of thecontrol valve 11 to closed position, which is accomplished by engagingthe switch arm 26 with the contact 28. Such an operation will throw thecoil 16 directly across the supply line 25, causing the plunger 15 to besucked into the coil 16 with the resulting closing of the control valveby reason of the turning movement imparted to it through the movement ofthe plunger. The latch 45 will then be retracted by the resumption ofthe engagement of the lever 5l with the angular extremity 50 of the stem47. Should the supply fail, however, during the operation of the burner10, there would be no chance for escape of gas by the resumption of'shut-oil valve will be moved to closed position by the dropping of theplunger 29. Since the latch 45 is free to function when thecontrol'valve 11 is open, it engages the seat 44 when the plunger 39drops, and thus resumption of pressure in the supply line cannot shiftthe shut-off valve to open position until after the control valve 11shall have beenv closed, so that the lever 51 may function to retractthe latch. The burner may then be reignited if desired by re-engagingvthe switch arm 26 with the contact 27.

What is .claimed is:

l. An appliance of the kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a shutoff valve interposed between the burner and the sourceof gas supply and normally impelled to closed position but gas pressureactuated to open position, ignition apparatus having an electrodedisposed in close vproximity to the jets of the burner, a latchretaining the valve in closed position, an electromagnet operativelyconnected with the latch to eiect release of the same, and an ignitionycircuit including the electrode, the burner and the elect-romagnettoprovide interdependence between the energization of the electrode andthe release of said latch.

2. An appliance of the kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a shutoff valve interposed between the burner and the sourceof gas. supply, and normally impelled to closed position but gaspressure actuated to open position, ignition apparatus having anelectrode disposed in close proximity'tcrthe jets of the burner, a.latch retaining the valve in closed position, an electromagnetoperatively connected with the latch to effect release of the same, andan ignition circuit including the electrode, the burner and theelectromagnet to provide interdependence between the energization of theelectrode and the release of said latch, said ignition n circuitincluding a circuitcloser operatively connected with the valve structureto remain openA except whenthe valve is in openV position; n

`3. An appliance of the kind indicated .comprising in combination witha-gas burner, a shutoff valve interposed between the burner and thesource of gas supply and normally impelled to closed position but vgaspressure actuated to open position, ignition apparatus having an'electrode disposed in close proximity V-to the jets ofthe burner,` alatch retaining the valve in closed postion, anelectromagnetjioperatively connected with the latchto eiectrelease ofthe same, and

an ignition circuit including "the electrode, the burner and theelectromagnet to provide interdependence between the energization of theelectrode and the .release of said latch, said ignition circuitincluding a thermostatic circuit closer positioned adjacent the burnerfor movement to. open position when the burner is lighted, and a secondcircuit closer in series with the thermo-` static circuit closer andoperatively connected with said shut-oil valve for closure only whensaid shut-oil valve is in open position.

4. An appliance of the'kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a supply conductor for the.same,va valve included in saidconductor -to 'open' and close passage through theV same, a casing inwhich said valve is disposed," a diaphragmcarried Vwithin said casingand connected with the valve and dening in conjunction with the casing agas pressure chamber through which gas passes to said conductor, a latchto retain said valve in closed position on decline of gas pressureagainst said diaphragm, aremotely controlled release for said latch,` an

r ignition circuit for ignitingthe burner, and acircuit closercontrolling said ignition circuit and operatively connected with saidvalve to be closed by the valve only when the latter is in openposition. A

5. An appliance of the kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a supply conductor for the same, a valve included in saidconductor to open and close passage through the same, a casing in whichsaid valve,is disposed, a diaphragm carried within said'casing andconnected with,the valve and defining in conjunction with the casing agas pressure chamber through which gas passes to said conductor, a latchto retain said valve in closed position on decline of gas `pressureagainst said diaphragm, a remotely controlled release for said latch, anignition circuit for igniting the burner, a circuit closer controllingsaid ignition circuit and operatively .connected with said valve to be.closed by the valve only when the latter is in open position, and athermostatic circuit closer in series with the aforesaid circuit closer,said thermostatic circuit closer being normally closed but positionedadjacent the burner for movement to open position by the heat generatedafter the burner is lighted.

5.V An appliance Aof the kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a control y valve vfor thesame, ignition apparatus having anelectrode disposed in close proximity to the jets of the burner, anelectromagnetic means for actuating the control valve, an ignitioncircuit including the electrode and the burner and operatively connectedwith the valve actuating means to be energized only when said means isenergized, a shut-on valve interposed between the control valve and thesource of gas supply and normally impelled to closed position but gaspressure actuated to open position, and a circuit closer in series withthe valve `actuating means and operatively connected with the shut-onvalve to be moved to vclosed position only when the shutoifvalve isopen.

7. -An appliance ofthe kind indicated comprising in combination with agas burner, a control valvefor the same, ignition apparatus having anelectrode disposed in close proximity to the jets of the burner, anelectromagnetic means for, actuating the control valve, an ignitioncircuit including ,the electrode and the burner and operativelyconnected vwith the valve actuating means to be energized only when saidmeans is energized, a shut-off valve interposed between the controlvalve and the source'of gas supply and normally impelled to closedposition but gas pressure actuated to open position, and operativeconnections between the llast said valve 'and the control valveactuating means to render thelatter inert to move the control valve toopen position except when the shut-off valve is in open position. f

8. An appliance of the kind indicated comprising' in combination with agas burner, a control valve forthe same, ignition apparatus having anelectrode disposed in close proximity to the jets ing means and in openposition except when the shut-off valve is in open position.

the burner to be moved to open position by the heat from the latter, ashut-01T valve interposed between the control `valve and the source ofsupply, and a cut-out switch operatively connected with said shut-01Tvalve, said cut-out switch and thermostatic switch being connected inseries with the valve actuating means, said cut-out switch being inclosed position except when the shut-01T valve is in closed position.

JAMES BERNARD WILLIAMS.

